SmolReef Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 So this all actually started as an 8 gallon cube I bought already running (in very poor condition) because I wanted a tank to entertain my cat during the day. I read many helpful post on here to help me build something that better suited my space. September 2018: i got new rock for the cube I bought and let it cycle for about 6-7 weeks before adding a small clown and some corals. November 2018: I ordered glass from a local place (they were kind enough to drill it for me as well) and order silicone from BRS. I waited a full 48 hours for the tank to cure before adding water and letting it sit for 2 days to watch for leaks. December 2018: I added a second clown and cleaner shrimp. The shrimp actually provides the most entertainment for Beans. January 2019: Have slowly added a high fin goby and pistol shrimp pair and just last week a very shy tailspot blenny. Thank you all for your help on here I wouldn’t have been able to make this happen without this forum and the help of a friend. I hope that this could also help other people getting started. My progress wasn’t as linear as it appears and there have been some set backs (mostly caused by my own impatience) 5 Quote Link to comment
WV Reefer Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 2 minutes ago, SmolReef said: So this all actually started as an 8 gallon cube I bought already running (in very poor condition) because I wanted a tank to entertain my cat durong the day. I read many helpful post on here to help me build something that better suited my space. September 2018: i got new rock for the cube I bought and let it cycle for about 6-7 weeks before adding a small clown and some corals. November 2018: I ordered glass from a local place (they were kind enough to drill it for me as well) and order silicone from BRS. I waited a full 48 hours for the tank to cure before adding water and letting it sit for 2 days to watch for leaks. December 2018: I added a second clown and cleaner shrimp. The shrimp actually provides the most entertainment for Beans. January 2019: Have slowly added a high fin goby and pistol shrimp pair and just last week a very shy tailspot blenny. Thank you all for your help on here I wouldn’t have been able to make this happen without this forum and the help of a friend. I hope that this could also help other people getting started. That looks great! 😊 welcome to NR! 1 Quote Link to comment
SmolReef Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 Thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 Looks really nice!! Quote Link to comment
SmolReef Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 3 minutes ago, Tamberav said: Looks really nice!! Thank you! 1 Quote Link to comment
righttirefire Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 What are the dimensions? Quote Link to comment
SmolReef Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 2 minutes ago, righttirefire said: What are the dimensions? Forgot to mention those, 30x10x10 Quote Link to comment
righttirefire Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 Kind what i was thinking. Looked like a smaller 20 long. It looks very nicely done Quote Link to comment
SmolReef Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 2 minutes ago, righttirefire said: Kind what i was thinking. Looked like a smaller 20 long. It looks very nicely done Thank you! I really wanted the 12 long just didn’t have the space, went a little wider and taller to make up for the shorter length. 1 Quote Link to comment
righttirefire Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 I like the 12 long. Just not the lighting options Quote Link to comment
SmolReef Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 2 minutes ago, righttirefire said: I like the 12 long. Just not the lighting options Same, I’m not thrilled with the lighting options for mine but it works. 1 Quote Link to comment
mitten_reef Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 1 hour ago, SmolReef said: very nice selections of rocks and scape! 1 Quote Link to comment
Friendly Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 where did you get your aquarium from? what's the brand name? also, it's beautiful! 😄 Quote Link to comment
SmolReef Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 18 minutes ago, Friendly said: where did you get your aquarium from? what's the brand name? also, it's beautiful! 😄 Thanks! I actually made it myself, if you can find a local place that cuts glass it’s usually very reasonably priced, then watch a few YouTube videos on sealing one and you’ll be good to go! 1 Quote Link to comment
Friendly Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 oh wow...custom. niiice! what kind of glass did you use? how much did it cost you to get sized/cut? feel like sharing links to the tutorials off YouTube you used to help you figure out how to seal it? Quote Link to comment
SmolReef Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 2 minutes ago, Friendly said: oh wow...custom. niiice! what kind of glass did you use? how much did it cost you to get sized/cut? feel like sharing links to the tutorials off YouTube you used to help you figure out how to seal it? I used regular 1/4” glass for the sides and tempered for the bottom. I didn’t want to spend the extra on low iron considering I wasn’t even sure if I could make it work at that point...I had some serious doubts about not having leaks but it went better than expected! It was $46 for all the glass, having the bottom tempered added $10 (no necessary reason to have the bottom tempered I just decided it felt more secure that way to me. thats the video I watched...I would recommend ordering aquarium safe silicon though because there’s several versions of the one he uses and I accidentally bought the one at Home Depot with mold inhibitors (will kill livestock) in it and luckily noticed before adding water but scraping silicone off for hours to use the right stuff was zero fun. 1 Quote Link to comment
Friendly Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 thanks mate! did you get the shop that cut the glass to drill your overflow as well? Quote Link to comment
SmolReef Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 3 minutes ago, Friendly said: thanks mate! did you get the shop that cut the glass to drill your overflow as well? Yep! They did it for free actually. Quote Link to comment
Friendly Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 btw, did you look to see if you could get low iron glass, or didn't bother checking? Quote Link to comment
SmolReef Posted February 7, 2019 Author Share Posted February 7, 2019 7 minutes ago, Friendly said: btw, did you look to see if you could get low iron glass, or didn't bother checking? I didn’t bother asking 1 Quote Link to comment
SmolReef Posted February 23, 2019 Author Share Posted February 23, 2019 Does anyone else have a tailspot blenny that thinks it’s a clownfish? 1 Quote Link to comment
SmolReef Posted March 26, 2019 Author Share Posted March 26, 2019 update: how much coral is too much? Quote Link to comment
SmolReef Posted March 26, 2019 Author Share Posted March 26, 2019 also I recently got some monti caps that seem to be bleaching, rest of the tank seems happy other than a JF flame frag that may be dead? All were acclimated “appropriately” any thoughts? Quote Link to comment
billygoat Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 Pretty cool tank! You've got some gorgeous corals, and I like your Ricordea garden as well. Looks like you also added a 3rd LED puck. Are those all A80s? 1 Quote Link to comment
Tigahboy Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 On 2/7/2019 at 10:25 AM, SmolReef said: So this all actually started as an 8 gallon cube I bought already running (in very poor condition) because I wanted a tank to entertain my cat during the day. I love how this all started b/c you wanted to entertain your cat. Awesome work with the DIY tank and everything else! Quote Link to comment
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